Court archive
Court reports mentioning Rathkeale, Limerick
2026-07-31 · Limerick
The High Court has refused to surrender a Limerick man to Greek authorities, where he is wanted on human trafficking charges, after his lawyers objected to extradition on the basis of conditions in the Greek prison system. Jeremiah O'Brien is alleged to have facilitated the smuggling of 66 Middle Eastern people to Italy by speedboat. His lawyers argued that overcrowding in Greek prisons, with one prison at 164% capacity, was a concern. The court heard that the boat used was for pleasure purposes and had no life jackets, putting the occupants in danger. Mr Justice Seán Gillane agreed to send a letter to the Greek authorities to address the concerns about prison conditions. He ruled that the extradition should be refused, citing the conditions in Greek prisons as a reason.
2026-06-24 · Limerick
The High Court is seeking further information from Greek authorities before ruling on the extradition of a Limerick man wanted on a human trafficking charge, after hearing that jails there are effectively 'being run by the prisoners' due to overcrowding. Barristers for Jeremiah O'Brien (56), who is alleged to have attempted to facilitate the smuggling of 66 Middle Eastern people to Italy by speedboat, told the High Court that overcrowding in one Greek prison had been recorded at 164%. Lawyers for the State said that any issues raised about the levels of overcrowding and violence Mr O'Brien could experience if he is surrendered needed to be addressed by the Greek state. It is alleged that Mr O'Brien and two other named persons acted jointly on November 22nd, 2017, to facilitate the transportation of 66 people, without life jackets, from an unknown desert place near Nafplio, Greece, towards Italy. The boat stranded on a rocky shore near Gyalia beach close to Gerolimenas, Greece.
2026-03-02 · Limerick
The High Court has quashed an extradition order for Kathleen Sharina McCarthy, a woman with links to Rathkeale, Co Limerick, who was convicted in absentia of a money laundering offence involving £220,000. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland overturned the December 2024 surrender order, ruling that McCarthy should not be extradited to the UK because she was unaware her trial could proceed in her absence. The appeal challenged the Minister for Justice's decision under the UK's Trade and Co-operation Agreement, stemming from a November 2017 conviction at Lewes Crown Court. Although McCarthy was charged in October 2016 and required to appear at Crawley Magistrates' Court, she failed to attend a January 2017 pre-trial hearing, leading to an 'in absentia' trial. The court found no direct evidence that McCarthy was expressly informed of the consequences of non-attendance or that she could be tried in absentia. Consequently, the High Court refused the surrender, concluding that the evidence was insufficient to infer she knew the trial would proceed without her. The matter was adjourned regarding further procedural steps, though the immediate surrender order was quashed.
2026-02-19 · Dublin
A man has failed to convince an appeal court that his conviction for "egregious" driving on the M50 was a case of mistaken identity and will be jailed for five months. Freddie Hegarty was convicted in the District Court of four counts of dangerous driving and was sentenced to five months imprisonment for the first count, along with a ten-year driving disqualification and a €1,000 fine. He later lodged an appeal against his conviction. Garda David Jordan testified that during a pursuit, Hegarty drove a BMW through a red light, accelerated hard, and cut off road users on the M50. He said that he saw the registration of the car and notified colleagues on the radio that there was a vehicle driving dangerously. Garda Jordan said that during the pursuit, which lasted for about 10 to 15 minutes, the car accelerated hard, veering left and right and cutting off road users. He said that the car went through a red light and eventually proceeded to Connolly Memorial Hospital.
2026-01-14 · Limerick
Lawyers for Jeremiah O'Brien, a Limerick man wanted in Greece for human trafficking, have raised concerns about Greek prison conditions in the High Court. O'Brien is accused of facilitating the smuggling of 66 Middle Eastern people to Italy by speedboat in 2017. His legal team argued that Greek prisons are overcrowded, unsafe, and controlled by prisoners, violating human dignity. They cited a 2022 report highlighting poor healthcare, lack of medical confidentiality, and inadequate government funding. The court was asked to delay O'Brien's extradition to allow Greek authorities to address these concerns. The State's legal representative noted the Greek government's response was aspirational but did not contradict the report. The case was adjourned to January 26, with both sides agreeing to request further information from Greek authorities.
2025-12-11 · Limerick
A Limerick man, Jeremiah O'Brien (55), who is wanted in Europe on a human trafficking charge, has been remanded in custody with consent to bail. He is alleged to have facilitated the transportation of 66 people from an unknown desert place near Nafplio, Greece, to Italy without life jackets. The boat was found stranded on a rocky shore near Gyalia beach. The State opposed his bail application at the High Court, citing concerns that he might abscond. O'Brien's defence counsel, Simon Matthews BL, stated that his client is a member of the travelling community who sells tools and generators across Europe and that the addresses provided were those of family and friends. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring noted the seriousness of the allegations but emphasized O'Brien's right to be presumed innocent. She granted bail on his own bond of €500 and an independent surety of €15,000, with conditions including surrendering travel documents, living at his Rathkeale address, and maintaining a curfew. O'Brien must also attend all court dates and not apply for travel documents.
2025-11-27 · Limerick
A Limerick man is wanted in Europe for allegedly attempting to traffic 66 people from Greece to Italy by speedboat. Jeremiah O'Brien (55) was arrested on an SIS alert related to a European warrant. Detective Garda Tony Keane testified that O'Brien, along with two others, rented a car and a 12m speedboat to transport the individuals, who paid between $4,000 and $6,000 each. The boat was discovered stranded on a rocky shore near Gylalia beach, with the 66 people including 30 adult men, 14 adult women, and 22 children from Iraq, Syria, and Iran. O'Brien denied being in Greece and claimed he had no knowledge of the incident. The court remanded him in custody to appear again on December 9.
2024-06-06 · Limerick
In a Court of Appeal decision on 6 June 2024, Ms Justice Tara Burns rejected John O'Donoghue's application for legal costs after his convictions for assault causing serious harm and violent disorder were quashed. O'Donoghue, aged 55, had been convicted in November 2021 of attacking 74‑year‑old Willie O'Driscoll Sr with a machete and of violent disorder during a family dispute in Rathkeale. He had been sentenced to 10 years for the assault and a concurrent eight‑year term for the disorder, but after two years in custody he successfully appealed, arguing that Gardaí had failed to harvest vital CCTV footage and had withheld a garda notebook until the trial. The Court found that the lack of CCTV investigation deprived him of a realistic prospect of defence, yet it held that this failure did not create an obligation to pay his costs. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty.
2024-05-13 · Limerick
John O'Donoghue, a 54‑year‑old Rathkeale resident, was convicted in November 2021 of assault causing serious harm to a 74‑year‑old pensioner and of violent disorder. He received a 10‑year sentence for the assault and a concurrent eight‑year term for the disorder. O'Donoghue appealed, arguing that Gardaí failed to obtain vital CCTV footage and that a Garda notebook was withheld until the trial. In February 2024, Justice Tara Burns upheld his complaint, stating that the investigation's shortcomings deprived him of a reasonable prospect of defence. At the Court of Appeal, counsel for O'Donoghue argued he should recover costs from both the trial and the appeal, claiming the prosecution's flaws made the appeal necessary. Counsel for the State countered that the appeal was justified and that costs were discretionary. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment on the costs issue. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty.
2024-02-16 · Limerick
In February 2024 the Court of Appeal quashed the convictions of John O'Donoghue, a 54‑year‑old from Rathkeale, who had been jailed for ten years for assault causing serious harm to a 74‑year‑old Willie O'Driscoll Sr. in December 2017. The appeal was based on the prosecution's failure to obtain and preserve CCTV footage that a local resident had confirmed was operational at the time of the incident. The court found that Gardaí had an established duty to seek out such footage, but had not done so, depriving O'Donoghue of a reasonable prospect of defence. The court also noted that a Garda notebook was disclosed to the defence during the trial without prior notice, a procedural fault that was deemed unsatisfactory but not sufficient to overturn the conviction on that ground alone. The convictions were quashed and the case was adjourned for a possible retrial on 22 March 2024. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty.
2023-11-28 · Limerick
In a historic hearing, the Court of Appeal's first all‑female panel—Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, Ms Justice Tara Burns and Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh—considered an appeal by John O'Donoghue, 54, who was convicted in November 2021 of assault causing serious harm and violent disorder at Bothar Buí, Rathkeale. O'Donoghue, jailed for ten years, argued that the prosecution failed to disclose a Garda notebook to the defence before the trial. The notebook, containing a description of the scene, was slid across the table by the prosecution while the Garda was giving evidence, a move described by Ms Justice Kennedy as "most unsatisfactory." O'Donoghue's counsel claimed the lack of disclosure prejudiced the defence, who had already cross‑examined witnesses. The panel noted the issue but, after hearing arguments from the State and the defence, said it would reserve its judgement on whether the conviction should be overturned. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty.
2022-12-07 · Limerick
In a High Court hearing on 7 December 2022, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) sought to have 111 cars seized from Stephen Bawn Motors Ltd and €20,000 in a linked bank account declared proceeds of crime under the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act. The cars, sold at auction for €820,000, were bought by the dealership, which began trading about seven years earlier, with money allegedly derived from illegal drug dealing. CAB alleged that the dealership was used by individuals with links to local, national and international criminals, including Christy Keane and the Kinahan gang, to launder drug proceeds and that the owner, Mr Mike Nash, was involved in drug importation and sale. The company and Mr Nash denied the claims. CAB also cited VAT fraud and other illegal activities. The case is pending before Mr Justice Alexander Owens.
2021-04-12 · Limerick
In a case heard in Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Thomas O'Driscoll (40) and Patrick O'Driscoll (39) pleaded guilty to deception for targeting an elderly woman in her 70s. The brothers approached her in a jewellery shop in Skibbereen on 11 November 2018, persuaded her to give them her phone number after showing a machinery brochure, and later called her in Goleen. They aggressively urged her to purchase machinery and tools, resulting in her writing cheques totaling almost €25,000. The woman later cancelled the cheques, but €6,500 had already been cashed. The brothers paid €6,000 in compensation and each offered €4,000 of their bail money. They were sentenced to two years' imprisonment each. Their lawyers had planned to appeal to the Court of Appeal, but the brothers withdrew the appeal after the court's judges noted the possibility of increasing the sentence. The withdrawal was deemed a wise decision by the presiding judge.
2020-05-22 · Limerick
John Slattery, aged 30 and known as John Flynn, was arrested early in the morning by 20 armed Gardaí in Limerick and extradited to the United States to face three wildlife‑trafficking charges. The High Court heard that Slattery had been on bail, which was due to expire at midnight, and that he had agreed to surrender himself to U.S. authorities. U.S. prosecutors allege that Slattery and two others purchased rhino horns in Austin, Texas, for €18,000, then sold them in New York for €50,000, using a Texas "straw buyer" because they were not local residents. They also allegedly bought two more horns in 2010 for €10,000 and acquired a consignment of horns at an auction in Macon, Missouri. Slattery had spent nine months in remand before being granted bail in April, with a €10,000 bond lodged.
2020-04-03 · Limerick
John Slattery, a 30‑year‑old Limerick man who has changed his name to John Flynn, was granted bail by the High Court while awaiting extradition to the United States on allegations of wildlife trafficking. Slattery is accused of three offences in the US involving the purchase and sale of endangered black rhino horn. US authorities claim he and two others bought horns for $18,000 in Austin, Texas, then sold them for $50,000 in New York, and later bought additional horns for $10,000 between April and November 2010. They also allege that in early 2011 six horns were sold for $260,000 at an auction in Macon, Missouri. Slattery has spent about nine months in custody and has consented to extradition, but the Covid‑19 crisis has delayed the handover.
2020-04-01 · Limerick
John Slattery, a 30‑year‑old Limerick man who has changed his name to John Flynn, is currently in custody awaiting extradition to the United States for alleged wildlife trafficking. He is accused of three offences involving the purchase and sale of endangered black rhino horn. US authorities claim that Slattery and two others bought horns for $18,000 in Austin, Texas, and later sold them for $50,000 in New York. They also allege that between April and November 2010 Slattery bought two more horns for $10,000 and that in early 2011 he and co‑accused sold six horns for $260,000 at an auction in Macon, Missouri. Slattery's counsel, Mark Lynam, said the client has agreed to extradition but that the Covid‑19 crisis prevents immediate surrender.
2019-02-01 · Limerick
In a 2017 Limerick Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lithuanian national Aurimas Petraska, of Church Street, Rathkeale, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for a series of 2016 burglaries that stole €150,000 worth of women's clothing and Chanel beauty products across Tipperary, Cork and Limerick. Judge Tom O'Donnell described the gang as "professional" and the raids as "premeditated and planned down to the last detail and executed with military precision". The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended. Petraska had planned to appeal the severity of the sentence, but his barrister John Moher BL informed the Court of Appeal that he wished to withdraw the appeal. Judge George Birmingham, President of the Court of Appeal, noted that Petraska had received "extraordinarily well" in the Circuit Court and that proceeding with the appeal risked an increased sentence. The Court of Appeal allowed the withdrawal, following a landmark 2018 sentencing guideline for burglary offences. Aurimas Petraska pleaded guilty.
2018-12-04 · Limerick
In a Special Criminal Court case, Dublin men Conor Hughes (41) and Darren Fox (28) pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge, sawn‑off, double‑barrel shotgun and two 12‑gauge cartridges. The weapons were seized on 31 October 2015 in a stolen car in Limerick, where a loaded shotgun, a jerry can of petrol and matches were found. The men were wearing gloves and hoodies, and the shotgun's serial number had been removed. Both had clean criminal records. The court sentenced them to seven years' imprisonment on 2 October 2017, a sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal on 4 December 2018. The appeal was dismissed, with the Court of Appeal noting the seriousness of a sawn‑off shotgun, its readiness to fire, and the connection to IRA activity as factors justifying the sentence.
2018-07-24 · Limerick
High Court proceedings have been initiated by John Sheridan Senior, John Sheridan, Thomas Sheridan, Daniel Sheridan, and Patrick Sheridan, who describe themselves as nomadic tarmac contractors and members of the Irish Travelling Community. The applicants, who state they reside in Rathkeale, Co Limerick when in Ireland, are challenging income tax assessments issued by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) for various years between 2004 and 2014. They dispute the assessments, arguing they were not tax resident in Ireland during the relevant periods due to their business operations in other EU countries. The action follows a decision by Tax Appeals Commissioner Mr Mark O'Mahony, who allowed appeals for some years but refused others, citing unpaid liabilities and unfiled returns. The Sheridans seek to quash the Commissioner's decision, alleging he failed to provide adequate reasons, determine their residency status, or consider their unique circumstances, including lack of literacy. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted the applicants permission on an ex parte basis to bring their judicial review challenge against the Commissioner. CAB is a notice party to the action. The judge also granted a stay on the further pursuit of sums allegedly due to the Revenue Commissioners pending the outcome of the case. The matter was made returnable to a date in November.
2017-05-11 · Dublin
Brian Kenna, 54, of Crumlin Park, Dublin, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Kenna had denied being a member of the unlawful organisation on 21 November 2015. The court heard testimony from Garda Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan, who believed Kenna was an IRA member on that date. Evidence included a briefing by Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire to the Special Detective Unit (SDU) that Kenna would be in Portlaoise prison engaging in IRA activities. CCTV footage showed Kenna arriving at Portlaoise prison at 10:20 am and leaving with white objects that were later identified as Christmas cards. While being searched in the prison carpark, a small item wrapped in cling film was found in Kenna's pocket. The item was an IRA communiqué containing three cigarette papers with handwritten notes. The message detailed a debriefing of three men who had been arrested after an intercepted IRA operation in Rathkeale, County Limerick.
2017-05-02 · Laois
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a secret communiqué allegedly smuggled out of Portlaoise prison by Brian Kenna. Kenna, who pleaded not guilty to membership of the IRA, was found with the document in his pocket during a search. Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire testified that the message, written on cigarette paper, was a debriefing of three men involved in an intercepted IRA operation, intended for the group's leadership in Northern Ireland. The debriefing concerned Conor Hughes and Darren Fox, who admitted to the unlawful possession of a sawn-off shotgun and two shotgun cartridges in County Limerick, and James Smithers, who was found guilty of IRA membership. Maguire stated the debriefing was conducted by the IRA's commanding officer in Portlaoise prison and referenced three other leading members in Northern Ireland. Kenna was interviewed under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998, allowing inferences to be drawn from his silence. He denied travelling to the prison for IRA activities, claiming he visited in his capacity with the Irish Prisoners' Welfare Association to raise welfare concerns. Kenna stated he was unaware of the note, suggesting it may have been hidden among Christmas cards handed to him. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges John O'Hagan and Flann Brennan.
2017-03-31 · Limerick
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 31 March 2017, the charge of false imprisonment against Mark Heffernan, aged 32, was dismissed. Heffernan had been accused of participating in a nail‑gun assault on Dan Quilligan, a 53‑year‑old resident of Rathkeale, who was beaten and had a nail driven into his left foot in a Limerick house. Heffernan denied imprisoning Quilligan at 6 Larch Court on 14 September 2015 and pleaded not guilty to the assault. Judge Tony Hunt ruled that any evidence of false imprisonment was integral to the assault and should be dealt with under the assault charge. He also excluded part of protected witness Tom Lillis's testimony, stating it did not meet the standard for a jury conviction. The case will resume on Monday with Judges John O'Hagan and Ann Ryan present.
2017-03-29 · Limerick
In the Special Criminal Court, Mark Heffernan (32) faced charges of assault and false imprisonment of Dan Quilligan on 14 September 2015. Heffernan pleaded not guilty. His counsel, Ronan Prendergast BL, argued that the prosecution's case was weakened by a lack of evidence linking Heffernan to the assault. He cited Quilligan's testimony that a man in the house warned "Leave the man alone, you're going to kill him," and claimed no evidence proved Heffernan was that man. Prendergast also urged the court to consider Tom Lillis's testimony that he saw Heffernan in the house that day, questioning its admissibility. The court adjourned the hearing to Friday for a decision on these legal submissions. The trial remains at the joint enterprise stage, with no verdict yet reached.
2017-03-27 · Limerick
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence from Garda interviews with Mark Heffernan, accused of assaulting and falsely imprisoning Dan Quilligan. Heffernan, 32, denies any involvement, stating he was not part of the alleged assault or false imprisonment. Garda Patrick Whelan interviewed him on 24 May, noting a tracking device on a white Audi that allegedly moved between Kennedy Park and Larch Court, where the incident occurred. Heffernan refuted this, claiming no connection to the car or the assault. The prosecution also read a statement from Richard McInerney, who was present in the house on the day of the alleged assault. McInerney described a confrontation over owed money, a bag thrown into the sitting‑room containing two white painter's suits, and his decision to leave. The prosecution closed its case, and the trial was adjourned to Wednesday for the defence to submit before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan, and Judge Ann Ryan. Mark Heffernan pleaded not guilty.
2017-03-24 · Limerick
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a detective reported that a protected witness, Tom Lillis, directed Gardaí to a site where he had disposed of two suits after being instructed by another man. The witness claimed to have seen the accused, Mark Heffernan, in a white suit at the Larch Court house on the day of an alleged assault on Dan Quilligan. Heffernan, aged 32, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Quilligan and to false imprisonment at the same address on 14 September 2015. Heffernan's lawyers objected to the protected witness's evidence. The court considered the witness statement as part of a voir dire to assess its admissibility. The trial will resume on Monday before Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Ann Ryan.
2017-03-23 · Limerick
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 23 March 2017, a protected witness, Tom Lillis, testified that he cleaned up blood from a kitchen after a man allegedly had his foot nailed to the floor. Lillis said he saw the accused assaulting and falsely imprisoning 53‑year‑old Dan Quilligan at a house in Limerick on the day of the alleged assault. The prosecution alleged that three men were involved in a joint enterprise, with Mark Heffernan (32) pleading not guilty to assault and false imprisonment. Lillis described being told to leave the house, returning to find blood spattered across the kitchen, and cleaning it with bleach and tea towels over about 30 minutes. He also claimed another man asked him to dispose of two white suits, which he threw over a high wall 300 yards away.
2017-03-22 · Limerick
In the Special Criminal Court, a protected witness named Tom Lillis testified that he saw Dan Quilligan, a Rathkeale resident, in the house where the alleged assault and false imprisonment occurred. The prosecution alleges that three men, including Mark Heffernan, 32, of Swallow Drive, John Carew Park, Limerick, participated in a joint enterprise that led to Quilligan being beaten and having his left foot nailed to the kitchen floor of a Limerick house on 14 September 2015. Heffernan has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Quilligan and to falsely imprisoning him at the same address on the same date. During cross‑examination, Heffernan's counsel, Ronan Munro SC, questioned Lillis about whether he knew Heffernan prior to the alleged offences. Lillis replied that he had seen Heffernan once or twice but could not confirm personal acquaintance.
2017-03-21 · Limerick
The Special Criminal Court heard a protected witness who said a Limerick man accused of assaulting and falsely imprisoning a 53‑year‑old was present at the house where the alleged attack took place. The prosecution claims that three men were involved in a joint enterprise during which Dan Quilligan, a resident of Rathkeale, was beaten and his left foot was nailed to the kitchen floor of a house in Limerick. Mark Heffernan (32) pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Quilligan and to falsely imprisoning him at the same address on 14 September 2015. Two other men, Gerard Mackin (33) and Patrick Hayes (52), pleaded guilty and were sentenced to three years in prison by the non‑jury court. Tom Lillis, a witness, testified that he was living at the house in Larch Court with two other men, including Patrick Hayes, on the morning of the assault.
2017-03-16 · Limerick
Two Limerick men, Gerard Mackin (33) and Patrick Hayes (52), pleaded guilty to a "depraved and barbaric" assault on 53‑year‑old Dan Quilligan on 14 September 2015 at 6 Larch Court. Quilligan was nailed to the kitchen floor with a nail‑gun, causing lasting pain and trauma. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the assault as "most grievous". Both men were sentenced to three years' imprisonment. A separate charge of falsely imprisoning Quilligan was dropped by the State. The case was presented as a pre‑planned joint enterprise, with CCTV evidence linking Mackin's car to the scene. Quilligan's victim impact statement highlighted the lasting physical and emotional damage, stating the incident had "shattered my life". The trial of co‑accused Mark Heffernan, who pleaded not guilty, will resume on Monday.
2017-03-15 · Limerick
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Dan Quilligan, a Limerick resident, alleged that on 14 September 2015 he was beaten and had his left foot nailed to the kitchen floor of a house at 6 Larch Court, Limerick. Quilligan, who was drinking with a friend at the train station that day, was taken to the house by his friend in a van. He reported being struck on the jaw and head, having a belt used against him, and that a nail gun was fired into his right foot while his left foot was nailed to the floor. He said he did not know the assailants' names, though two men were at the door. Three men—Gerard Mackin (33), Mark Heffernan (32), and Patrick Hayes (52)—are on trial for assault and false imprisonment, all pleading not guilty. The prosecution claims the call that directed Quilligan and his friend to the house came from Hayes' phone.
2017-01-25 · Carlow
James Smithers, 38, of St Patrick's Park, Tullow, Co. Carlow, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of IRA membership. He had denied membership of the Irish Republican Army on 31 October 2015. Smithers was arrested early that morning in Rathkeale, County Limerick, at an isolated rural location. Two other men were also arrested in a Volkswagen Golf, where Gardaí discovered a sawn‑off shotgun, a can of petrol and matches. The court heard that the three men were engaged in an IRA operation and that Smithers' role was to provide the stolen Volkswagen Golf. Justice Isobel Kennedy, after hearing evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan and the application of Sections 2, 18 and 19 of the Offences Against the State Act and the Criminal Justice Act, concluded that the evidence cumulatively indicated Smithers was involved in a criminal endeavour on the date in question. He was remanded in custody until 8 February, when he will be sentenced.
2017-01-19 · Carlow
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, James Smithers, 38, of St Patrick's Park, Tullow, Co. Carlow, pleaded not guilty to an indictment of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution, represented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor BL, argued that Smithers supplied a stolen car for an IRA operation in County Limerick on 31 October 2015. Central to the case was the belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan, who claimed to be "absolutely satisfied" that the information supporting his belief was reliable and accurate. Kirwan's testimony was supplemented by the fact that Smithers failed to answer material questions after Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act was invoked, which the prosecution said provided sufficient supporting evidence of guilt. Smithers' defence, led by Mark Nicholas SC, challenged the depth of Kirwan's file and the inference that the suspicious activity on the night in question proved membership.
2017-01-18 · Limerick
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, James Smithers, 38, of St Patrick's Park, Tullow, pleaded not guilty to an indictment of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution alleged that Smithers supplied a stolen Volkswagen Golf for an IRA operation in County Limerick. On 30 October 2015, Detective Garda Liam O'Neill, on duty, and two colleagues travelled to County Limerick. They encountered Smithers in the black Golf at Five Cross Roads outside Rathkeale at 1:35 am. O'Neill's colleague, Detective Garda Joe Higgins, later reported finding a sawn‑off shotgun in another stolen car. Smithers had previously been seen driving the Golf to County Limerick. During questioning under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act, Smithers gave no comment to inquiries about IRA activities. The court also heard that the detective invoked Sections 18, 19 and 19(a) of the Criminal Justice Act, allowing inferences from Smithers' silence regarding the stolen vehicle and firearm.
2017-01-17 · Carlow
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a Garda chief superintendent testified that he believed James Smithers, 38, of St Patrick's Park, Tullow, was a member of the Irish Republican Army. Smithers had pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation on 31 October 2015. The superintendent, citing confidential information, stated his belief during cross‑examination. He also mentioned that on 30 October 2015 he travelled with other detectives to County Limerick, where a stolen Volkswagen Golf was found outside Rathkeale, containing two men, a sawn‑off shotgun and petrol. The trial is ongoing.
2017-01-16 · Carlow
A Carlow man, James Smithers, 36, was accused in the Special Criminal Court of providing a stolen car for an IRA operation. He pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, claiming the IRA. The prosecution, led by Anne‑Marie Lawlor BL, relied on Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan's belief that Smithers was an IRA member on the relevant date. Evidence included Smithers' alleged activities that night, Garda interviews, and the discovery of a sawn‑off shotgun, petrol, and matches near the arrest site in Rathkeale. The trial continues.
2016-12-05 · Limerick
Two Dublin men, Conor Hughes, 38, and Darren Fox, 26, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to unlawful possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge, sawn‑off, double‑barrel shotgun and two 12‑gauge cartridges. The weapons were found in Kyletaun, Rathkeale, County Limerick on 31 October 2015. Hughes lives in Goatstown Close, Goatstown, and Fox in Coolevin, Ballybrack. They were arrested by the Special Detective Unit during a dissident republican investigation. The court remanded them on continuing bail until 23 January, when sentencing will occur.
2016-10-24 · Limerick
Two men, Conor Hughes (38) and Darren Fox (26), are set to be tried at the Special Criminal Court on firearms offences on 11 January next year. They are charged with unlawful possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge sawn‑off double‑barrel shotgun and two 12‑gauge cartridges at Kyletaun, Rathkeale, County Limerick on 31 October 2015. The trial is expected to last two weeks. A third man, Jamie Smithers (36), will be tried on charges of IRA membership on 25 January, also expected to last two weeks.
2016-06-07 · Limerick
In a County Limerick case, a book of evidence was served on three men—Conor Hughes (38), Darren Fox (26), and Jamie Smithers (36)—accused of IRA membership and firearms offences. The men were arrested on Halloween 2015 by the Special Detective Unit. They face charges of membership in the Irish Republican Army and unlawful possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge shotgun and cartridges. A three‑judge, non‑jury court heard the evidence, and the men were remanded on continuing bail until a further mention on 28 June.
2015-11-09 · Dublin
Howard Kelly, aged 41, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 48‑year‑old Margot Seery, who was strangled in her Kenilworth Square flat in Dublin on 7–8 October 1994. Kelly walked into a Garda station in Naas in July 2014 and confessed to the killing, claiming he had been threatened by Seery and had acted in a "completely unprovoked" manner. The court heard that Seery's body was found fully clothed, face‑down on her bed, and that a post‑mortem at the time had indicated death by asphyxiation from vomit after alcohol consumption, a conclusion later challenged by Kelly's confession. The prosecution presented statements from Kelly, Garda evidence, and victim impact statements from Seery's daughter and brother. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, imposed a life sentence back‑dated to 27 March 2015. The case was described as highly unusual by the State prosecutor. Howard Kelly pleaded guilty.
2015-11-06 · Dublin
Three men—Conor Hughes (38), Darren Fox (26) and Jamie Smithers (36)—were charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army and firearms offences. They were arrested early on Halloween morning by the Special Detective Unit in County Limerick. The charges include unlawful possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge shotgun and two 12‑gauge cartridges. The State objected to their bail applications, but Mr Justice Paul Butler of the Special Criminal Court granted bail. Conditions require the men to stay at home, observe a curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, sign daily at a local Garda station, remain available on a mobile phone, and avoid contact with anyone charged with a scheduled offence or with each other. Hughes and Fox must not leave County Dublin; Smithers must not leave Carlow or Wexford.
2015-11-02 · Limerick
Three men—Conor Hughes (38), Darren Fox (26) and Jamie Smithers (36)—appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 2 November 2015. They were charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army, an unlawful organisation, and with possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge shotgun and two 12‑gauge cartridges. The arrests were made early on 31 October 2015 by the Special Detective Unit in County Limerick. The court heard that the men did not reply to their arrest or caution. No bail applications were made. The judge remanded the men to custody to appear again on Friday. The proceedings were conducted in the non‑jury Special Criminal Court, with each accused represented by counsel. No further details of the case were disclosed in the article.